The thought of Manchester United and Arsenal fans rallying together behind a Liverpool player is an unusual one to say the least.

Throw in the fact that the Reds player in question is Mario Balotelli and the notion sounds even more unlikely.

However, that is the case - but not one as sincere that it could necessarily come across as.

Mario Balotelli poses for a photo which he posted on his Instagram page on Wednesday evening

Manchester United and Arsenal fans are voting for Balotelli as Liverpool's 'Player of the Year'

The sarcastic voting on Liverpool's official club website is to mock Balotelli's (right) disastrous debut season

Liverpool fans can vote for who is their 'Player of the Year' via their website - with Balotelli as an option

With the end of season in sight, Liverpool are asking their supporters to vote for their 'Player of the Year' for this season via their club website.

A seemingly fair way of letting those decide who has been the standout performer for the Anfield outfit this season, the voting system has gone awry as United and Arsenal fans have hijacked the public poll to ensure that Balotelli sarcastically wins.

The 24-year-old has endured a disastrous debut season on Merseyside since joining from AC Milan in a £16million deal last summer - scoring just four goals in 25 games in all competitions to date.

And the Italy international's poor displays haven't gone unnoticed - with supporters from Liverpool's top-four rivals creating new accounts to rig the vote, once they have already submitted their actual email address.

'Just voted for Balotelli as Liverpool's player of the season! #LFC #VoteBalotelli,' tweeted @JustRedDevils on Wednesday.

That United supporter's account was met with Arsenal fan @shad_dana who responded with the tweet: 'U do no tht u can do this multiple times by using fake emails Ive done it 20 times so far.' [sic]

And while it is unknown who is leading the race to be crowned Liverpool's Player of the Year at present, the fact that rival fans are attempt to disrupt the voting process won't please those on Merseyside.

Balotelli has scored just four goals in 25 games in all competitions this season for the Reds this season